Behold the Bezel-Less Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+

With gorgeous curved displays tucked into a compact waterproof body, Samsung's latest devices set new standards for smartphone design. Of course, the duo of phones are also packed with all the cutting-edge tech.

The Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ by Samsung bring the most notable redesign since the inception of the high-end product family back in 2010. Whereas all past Galaxy S phones always had a row of buttons underneath their display, Samsung's latest releases ditch them and their screen bezels, with amazing end results. By featuring stunning curved displays in a compact body, the duo of smartphones not only takes the Galaxy design language in a new direction, but also sets a new standard for the whole industry.

All-new design is not the only novelty that the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ deliver. As expected from a top-shelf phone by Samsung, each device comes packed with cutting-edge tech. This year, the new bits include an iris scanner, as well as an all-new virtual assistant dubbed Bixby, among others.

In line with the tradition established from the Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge onwards, the tech giant's latest high-end smartphones come in two distinct varieties. This time, as their names suggest, the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ differ only in screen size — the former has a 5.8-inch display, while the latter packs a larger 6.2-inch screen.

The Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ are also of great importance for Samsung for being the the first high-end phones to launch after the ill-fated Galaxy Note7. Hot on the heels of last year's battery mishap, Samsung implemented even more stringent battery safety procedures, ensuring that such a thing will not happen again. Each Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ battery has gone through a rigorous eight-point check to ensure its safety. You can find out more about the process here.

Simply Stunning in the Metal

The Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ look beautiful in the metal, featuring symmetrically curved glass panels on both sides, and a metal frame with matching color.

However, the aforementioned cool design bits take a backseat to the stunning curved Infinity display that takes up the front of both phones almost completely.

Ditching the display bezels has resulted in the mind-boggling screen-to-body ratio of 84% for both devices. This means that you are practically looking at nothing but a display when holding each phone — there's nothing to distract you from the task you are performing or the content you are enjoying.

A new location of the fingerprint sensor — located on the side of the camera sensor on the back of each phone — is the price to pay for having no buttons below the display. The setup is a tad counterintuitive and it takes a bit of getting used to. However, considering the ultra fast iris scanner that's embedded above the screen, we don't find the new location to be a deal-breaker.

The home button, while physically gone, has not changed its actual location. Thanks to the use of a clever pressure sensor, it is now built into the bottom of the display, just where you'd expect the old button to be. The back and recent apps buttons on the other hand, are located on the screen.

There is no surprise that the build quality of the Galaxy S8 duo is exceptional. Each device is crafted from metal and Gorilla Glass 5, meaning that it will handle heavy use well. Both phones are also IP68 waterproof just like their predecessors.

New Gold Standard for Display Quality

The all-new Infinity Super AMOLED displays of the Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ are handily the best we've seen on a mobile device to date. Each panel has a QHD+ resolution (2,960 by 1,440 pixels), and an 18.5:9 aspect ratio. The latter marks a departure from the typical 16:9 layout, making each screen look "taller" than usual.

Unsurprisingly, the AMOLED display panels of both devices deliver vivid colors, exceptional contrast levels, and top-notch viewing angles. The bright light legibility of each screen is also among the best we've experienced.

The Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ displays also have Mobile HDR Premium certification. The feature will come handy in the months ahead, as Netflix plans to roll our mobile HDR support on some of its content later this year. Other content platforms will almost certainly follow.

Curiously, Samsung has opted to set the display resolution of both devices to Full HD+ (2,220 by 1,080 pixels) out of the box, probably to conserve energy. You can switch to the maximum or reduce the resolution further in the settings.

Specs Overload

The Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ are the first phones to hit the shelves with Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 835 mobile chipset. With a cutting-edge 10-nanometer architecture, the component is not only faster than the model it replaces, but also more power-efficient. Samsung has coupled with chipset with 4GB of RAM.

Both phones have arguably the best set of wireless connectivity features available on any device. They include the ability to reach 1 Gbps downloads speeds over LTE, ultra fast Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 5.0. The latter appears for the first time in a smartphone — in addition to improved range and efficiency, it allows the phone to be shared with more than one wireless headset.

Every Galaxy S8 device comes standard with a generous 64GB ultra fast UFS 2.1 storage on board. There's also the option to expand it via a microSD card slot.

The smaller Galaxy S8 packs a 3,000mAh battery, while the Galaxy S8+ features a larger 3,500mAh unit. You have the option to charge the device rapidly via USB-C, or wirelessly by using a Qi or PMA-compatible wireless charger.

Every Galaxy S8 has a standard audio jack located at its bottom. Each device also packs a bottom-firing audio speaker.

Amazing Pair of Earbuds in the Box

The reason why the earbuds that come bundled with each Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ deserve a separate mention is that they are simply excellent. Made the legendary audio manufacturer AKG, the earphones have sleek design, a comfy fit, and a fabric-covered cable that doesn't tangle.

Most importantly, the AKG earbuds you'll get with your Galaxy S8 smartphone deliver better sound quality than you can possibly expect from a bundled headset. On their own, the in-ear headphones will set you back a cool $99.

Gorgeous New Android Interface

Both Galaxy S8 iterations run Android Nougat out of the box, dressed in the tech giant's latest custom user interface.

In addition to the usual set of available features and customization settings, Samsung's new take on Android impresses with understated looks, intuitive, gesture-based navigation, and fluid transitions.

Bixby Is Ambitious, but Not Ready for the Spotlight

The Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ are the first smartphones to launch with Bixby — an intelligent user interface with a dedicated side button, which will allow you to complete common tasks on their device with voice commands.

For the time being however, the voice functionality is not available. Samsung will enable it via a future update.

Bixby will be aware of the content on the device's display every time you open it — it has been designed to work in tandem with touch gestures. At this point in time, the assistant can display relevant information and shortcuts from a number of supported apps, as well as help you identify and search things you encounter by using the device's camera. There's also the option to shop online for the objects you identify.

Right now, it is clear that Bixby is not yet ready to take the spotlight. We will revisit the interface once its voice control capabilities go live and dig further into its capabilities.

It's worth keeping in mind that even though it appears gimmicky at a quick glance, Bixby is a major undertaking by Samsung. Eventually, it will make its way into tech products beyond the company's smartphones.

Class-Leading Performance

The Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ are currently the most powerful Android phones you can buy. The Qualcomm chipset found in each member of the duo runs a full generation ahead of any current competitor, so this is hardly a surprise.

There's even an optional Samsung DeX desktop dock to help you take advantage of the power both phones have on tap. When connected to a monitor, the docked phone will switch to a desktop interface and let you use it just like a regular computer.

During our time with both devices, we easily got a full day of heavy use on a battery charge, even at the max display resolution. Reducing the latter in the settings will further increase every device's longevity by putting less strain on its graphics.

The sole loudspeaker used in both phones is adequate, but nowhere near as good as the stereo setups found in some of Samsung's rivals. Still, considering the excellent pair of bundled headphones in the box, we don't consider this to be a deal-breaker.

Fantastic Camera

Just like their predecessors, the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ can capture amazing photos and 4K video, thanks to a 12MP camera sensor, sitting behind an f/1.7 lens. Samsung's nifty dual-pixel autofocus is also on board. Coupled with the powerful processor, it allows you to lock focus on objects and scenes instantly, regardless of the occasion.

There are multiple camera modes to play with, ranging from auto, all the way to a pro option, where you take control of the settings. There are dedicated modes for capturing panoramas, and even for taking Instagram-worthy photos of your food.

The Most Advanced Android Smartphones You Can Buy

The Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ are handily the best Android phones you can buy today. Each device offers a combination of gorgeous design, cutting-edge hardware, and a software experience that's designed to be hugely capable, yet intuitive.

In a true Galaxy fashion, the latest Samsung phones also come with a range of accessories and services that set them apart from their competitors. The updated Gear VR headset and its wireless controller are particularly nice, as they make enjoying virtual reality content a lot more interactive.

Pricing of the phones kicks off at $750 for the Galaxy S8. The larger Galaxy S8+, on the other hand, will set you back $850. All major carriers offer the opportunity to buy the phones in small monthly installments.

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